I have been following the activities of the Waitematā Local Board since October 2019 to identify and publish examples of both good and bad governance.
My aim by exposing examples of their governance was that this would lead to an improvement in their woefully low standards. There were two absolute lowlights.
Firstly, Chair Northey claiming mileage from his holiday home to a regularly scheduled meeting in Auckland. He made no apology for his behaviour. If he had been honourable, he would have resigned.
Secondly, the board would not accept Gael Baldock’s nomination by eight community members as a finalist in the recent Good Citizens Award. Gael works relentlessly in support of her community unpaid for more hours that most board members work. Because she is often critical of the board, she obviously didn’t qualify!
Up until October 2021, there were six City Vision members and one C&R member. With the six City Vision votes and led by an experienced politician, Chair Richard Northey could have ‘whipped them into shape’ easily. They had the power to do whatever they wanted, and have done so.
Constituents could take some small comfort that the one non-City Vision member, Sarah Trotman, was able to ask questions both at board meetings and when locked away in workshops, which are not open to the public.
Since Sarah has resigned, and the board is totally City Vision members, the community have been kept in the dark on the activities of these civil servants.
Having thought about the situation over the holiday break, I have concluded that the board as constituted serves no meaningful purpose other than allocating community grants, advocating for their supporters and rubber-stamping council decisions, all of which they can do without ever having to hold a board meeting. They used to caucus prior to meetings, now they no longer have to hide their blatant one sided view.
Reluctantly, I have decided to re-calibrate and to pursue the running of council which, after all, has much greater impact on our daily lives.
I remain hopeful that at the forthcoming election (October 2022) the voters of Waitematā will vote in candidates from more than one party so we can see some semblance of democracy in our part of the city.
Keith McConnell, www.keithforwaitemata.com
Since writing this letter to the editor we received sad news that Keith passed away unexpectedly in hospital on 6 March.
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